We generally tell customers oysters stay fresh up to 14 days, but our results showed the period of freshness may actually be longer. We like to err on the side of caution, so 14 days from harvest is probably a good rule of thumb to follow.
Once opened, oysters will keep for up to 7 days in the fridge, but be aware: they will absorb any strong flavours (for example rock melon and onion tend to taint the flavour, no matter how well packed your oysters are). When buying live oysters, make sure the shells are firmly closed.
How Long Do Oysters Last? Consume live oysters within two days of buying them for the freshest result. Live, in-shell oysters have a shelf life of up to seven days under proper storage conditions in your fridge. Shucked oysters will keep for a maximum of five days.
Kept at a proper temperature and prevented from drying out, an oyster can live in your fridge for up to a month, or even a little longerHowever, understand that the longer your oysters are out of the water, the more likely you are to lose a few. Always check to make sure the oysters are closed before you eat them.
The best way to store them is in their bag, inside a bowl with a damp cloth over the top. But please: Do not store the oysters directly on or underneath ice. Oysters will die if they sit in fresh water. You can keep them on a tray of ice for an hour or so but avoid letting them sit in a puddle of fresh water.
To maintain their freshness, wrap the Oysters in a damp tea towel or cloth and place in the fridge, closest to the freezer. Whatever you do, do not store Oysters in a sealed container; or on ice; or in water; or in the freezer.
Can Oysters Be Frozen? Oysters may be frozen, but once thawed, the texture of the meat, becomes softer and the oysters are generally not suitable for raw consumption. Frozen oysters, however, are quite acceptable when they are cooked. Oysters should be frozen quickly at a temperature of 0o F or lower.
One way to store the oysters is on a bed of ice. Lay the oysters with the deep side down on the ice and make sure the ice doesn't melt. Oysters stored this way will last about two days.
Shelf Life
Shucked oysters will have a good-through date. If they go past this date, you'll want to discard them. Shucked oysters typically have a 10-14 day refrigerated shelf life upon receipt.
When you bring raw oysters home, store them in their shell, large shell-side down, in the refrigerator (no lower than 33 F) for up to five days (although the flavor is best when they are consumed within 24 hours of purchase). They should be packed in either a mesh bag or in an open container covered with a damp cloth.
Rule of thumb is at least 4,000 years old. Foodie tradition dictates only eating wild oysters in months with the letter “r” – from September to April – to avoid watery shellfish, or worse, a nasty bout of food poisoning. Now, a new study suggests people have been following this practice for at least 4,000 years.
If properly cared for oysters can live out of the water in their shell for around 4 - 5 days.
To store fresh oysters, start by placing un-shucked oysters on top of a layer of ice in a bowl. Next, lay a damp towel on top of the bowl and place it in your refrigerator set to 35° to 40° Fahrenheit. Make sure that the towel stays damp and replace the ice as needed. Then, shuck and eat the oysters within 2 days.
At some point before shucking, you will need to give the oysters a scrub-down to remove any dirt, mud, sand, shell fragments, or other crud that you don't want to end up slurping down. I like to get that cleaning step out of the way as soon as I get the oysters home.
How Many Oysters Can You Eat In One Sitting? What is this? Oysters are an irresistible dish on your table. Still, based on our research, only six oysters per person is the ideal human consumption for the main course, and if served as an appetizer, three to four oysters per person are enough to consume.
While you're chugging water, call your doctor or local medical clinic, or take a stroll to the hospital. You'll probably be fine in two or three days, but since some forms of seafood-borne food poisoning can be extremely serious, it's important to get professionals involved as the illness may require more medical care.
The shell is joined at one end by a hinge, and can be closed by the oyster's powerful adductor muscle (the dark spots on the inside of an empty shell are the points to which the ends of this muscle adhered).
A fresh oyster should ideally have the scent of an ocean breeze and feel ice cold to the touch. If the oyster feels warm or gives off an offensive, pungent odour, then it is possibly about to go bad. Be sure to check this step before topping it with any sauces or garnishes, as those could potentially mask the odour.
It's vital to clean your oysters well before shucking. Use a stiff-bristled brush to remove sand, dirt, and debris. You can also put your oysters into a cold icy saltwater bath to soak for an hour in order to purge them of sand and grit.
Heart Healthy
Oysters are good sources of this form of fatty acid. The presence of magnesium and potassium also help to lower blood pressure and iron helps carry oxygen to blood cells. Oysters are also high in potassium, magnesium, and omega-3 fatty acids which help reduce the overall risk of stroke and heart attack.
Oysters that are still in the shells should only be frozen live. A live oyster will keep its shell tightly closed or will close it when tapped. If you have plenty of freezer space and want to freeze the oysters in the shells, simply wash the shells thoroughly and place in moisture-vapor resistant bags.
Put the mesh bag with oysters in a plastic bag. Close the plastic bag airtight*. Store the plastic bag with the oysters in the refrigerator until you are ready to enjoy the oysters. *Oysters hibernate while in the fridge, so they don't breath.
Properly stored, frozen oysters will maintain best quality for about 12 months in the freezer, although they will usually remain safe to eat after that.